Pin distributing mechanism for bowling pin spotting machines



T. FLINT March 16, 1954 PIN DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM FOR BOWLING PIN SPOTTING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 27, 1948 III,

' INVENTOR. zwmzsjz'zzi March 16, 1954 T. FLINT 2,672,341

PIN DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM FOR BOWLING PIN SPOTTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 2'7, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 9% Mm TY QQN DNA

ffii/eizz or gwnaffZZ iif M Off-0727 Mm MU E.. L: Ww gk k l March 16, 1954 T. FLINT 2,672,341

PIN DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM FOR BOWLING PIN SPOTTING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 27, 1948 f. WM

March 16, 1954 T. FLINT 2,672,341

PIN DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM FOR BOWLING PIN SPOTTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 27, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 flame az forwey INVENTOR 5 [072" BY m um.

.wSm a T. FLINT March 16, 1954 PIN DISTRI BUTING MECHANISM FOR BOWLING PIN SPOTTING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 27, 1948 INVENTOR. fzm jzkz Qforwey March 16, 1954 "r. FLINT 2,672,341 PIN DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM FOR 7 BOWLING PIN SPOTTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 27, 1948 -s Sheets-Sheet s IN V EN TOR. .ZZamifZ/l Patented Mar. 16, 1954 PIN DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM FOR BOWLING PIN SPOTTING MACHINES Thomas Flint, Concord, Mass., assignor to American Machine and Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application January 27, 1948, Serial No. 4,578

17 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in automatic bowling pin setting machines and particularly to a novel and improved pin distributor or distributing mechanism for use in such machines.

An example of one such machine is disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,388,707, November 13,1945, to R. E. Rundell.

In bowling pin spotting machines of this general type bowling pins which have been swept orremoved from a bowling alley into the pit adjacent the end of the alley are conveyed from the pit and delivered to pin distributing mechanism. At the proper time during the operation of the machine bowling pins are discharged from the distributor or delivered therefrom to a device which places them in playing positions on the pin supporting portion of the alley.

While several types of distributor mechanism are known in the art the present invention makes possible a rapid distribution of bowling pins one by one into substantially triangular arrangement corresponding to the playing positions which the several pins in the distributor will take when placed on the alley. The mechanism constituting the invention handles each pin with a minimum of wear and tear, and therefore the life of the pins is increased by its use.

An object of this invention is to provide, in an automatic bowling pin setting machine, novel pin distributing mechanism, by the use of which the operation and general performance of the machine may be improved.

Other objects of the invention are to provide novel and improved pin distributing mechanism, which is simple, compact and sturdy so that, in use it may be operated with the minimum of servicing and replacement of parts; also to provide an improved pin distributing mechanism in which pin cups are mounted in a novel manner;

in which a flexible pin carrier having pin cups thereon may traverse a plurality of relatively closely arranged pin stations and from which a set of pins may be simultaneously discharged into a machine element for delivery to the bed of s an alley.

Further objects are to provide, in a bowling pin distributing mechanism, improved electrical control means therefor, by which pins are automatically delivered to pin cups, and by which they are released by improved pin supporting and latching and release means.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists incertain combinations whichwillbe hereinafter fully described, and set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and form a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation of a portion of an automatic pin setting machine, having therein a pin distributor embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the pin distributor of this invention.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section, on an enlarged scale, on line 3-3 of Fig. 5, of a portion of the distributor drive mechanism.

Fig. 4.- is a transverse vertical section, on enlarged scale, of clutch mechanism for controlling the distributor drive mechanism, taken on line =:i of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, longitudinal vertical section of the distributor, taken approximately on line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view thereof, on the same scale as Fig. 2, taken approximately on line 5-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view, illustrating the form of the trip devices on the respective pin cups when in pin discharging relation to a series of stops on the distributor.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of one of the pin receiving cups of the distributor.

v on line l2|2 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary, sectional elevation of one of the pin cups, showing the pin supporting means thereof released and a pin descending through the cup.

The machine, shown somewhat diagrammatically in Fig. 1, and in which a pin distributor of the present invention is operatively'arranged, may be suitably mounted at the rear of an alley A. At the sides of the latter are upright walls or kickbacks 25 connected at their rear ends by a vertical cross frame or housing 22. Between the rear wall 2430f the alley and the frame 22, and extending between the kickbacks 23, is a pit 3 26 into which pins P, felled by thrown balls, or propelled rearwardly by an automatic sweep device (not shown) passing rearwaardly over the alley, are deposited.

Such pins may fall upon a suitable element for assisting their movement to the rear, such for example, as the pivoted and spring supported board or plate 28 which inclines downwardly to the rear, as indicated,

All pins P arriving at the back of the pit 28 come into engagement with and are carriedupwardly one after another, by a suitable endless pin conveyor or elevator (not shown) disposed within the frame or housing '22.

A more detailed showing or "the parts or the machine briefly described above may be found in Rundell Patent No. 2,388,107 .prev-iously referred to.

At a suitable elevation in housing 22 the pin conveyor (not shown) deposits the pins in succession, upon a deflector 3b which deliversthe pins, either end foremost, upon a suitable transport device 32 which carries the pins 1 towards and drops them into the distributor de'sign'ated generally "D.

The distributor "D, constructed and operating in accordance with this invention, will be described in detail as this disclosure proceeds.

rhe'pin transport-device 32 shown comprises 'a pair er endless 'V-belts 34 running on pairs of .pulleys 36, 38 and 40, one pair, such asthepulleys -36,being-driven*in'a direction to cause'theupper runs of the belts, upon which the pins are carried, to travel forwardly as indicated by the-ar- --i-ow,"Fig. 1.

The pins P may ran from the deflector means '30 onto "the-belts 34 either bu'tt end or handle end foremost, but 'it is desirable that all iplns be delivered to the distributor D butt end foremost so that they will all stand handle end up 'in the dis'tributor.

Belts '3 are so spaced that pins received thereon butt foremost will continue thus to the "distributor D, as stated (see Fig. l).

However, when any pins 'P dall h'andle ioremost on the transport device, see Fig. 1,.handle "portions of such pins will project downwardly and'forwardly between the belts and as 'the belts move forward, such handle portions will abut an end 42 of a plate I i disposed between and,

below the upper runs or the belts. Such pin handles will be held back'while the butts there- 'of proceed and thosep'ins thus turn :end for end until the butts thereof project forwardly. ""Ihns all pins are oriented and proceed butt foremost on the belts 35 with their handles dragging along the topof plate 44.

Any other suitable means may be used to convey "the pins from the elevator to the distributor D.

The distributor D, which is to be described, is horizontally arranged and is suitably supported on an upper, stationary horizontal skeleton frame 58 secured to spaced uprights '52.

Uprights '52 are fixed to and project upwardly from horizontal side members 54 ofthe machine iramaFig. 1.

Also mounted on frame ii are a set of .ten downwardly and forwardly inclined pin guides or deliverychutes 56 arranged in triangular pattern, Fig. 6, corresponding to the pin pattern on the alley A. At an appropriate time a set In ten pins :are simultaneously discharged from :the distributor B into the chutes :55 through 4 which they are guided to and assume upright positions in spotting table T.

Table T may be of any suitable construction enabling it to reciprocate vertically between an upper position below and adjacent the chutes 55 for receiving pins therefrom and an extreme lower position adjacent the :alley to spot pins thereon in playing position.

Movement of table T to and from spotting position relative to alley A may be effected by any suitable means such as the crank arms 69 andB-2. Arm 661s mounted on a rotatable horizontal shaft (it supported in hearings on the distributor frame fiiL'Fig. 2, while arm 62 is mounted to oscillate on "a similar shaft 66 on the table *I. 'The free ends of these crank arms are pivot- Ially connected to :a link ea. As arms 60 travel in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1, and the pivotal connections between arms Bi) and links 68 move past dead center, crank arms 52 "move in a counterclockwise direction. In this manner, table "-I, which is guided vertically in guides 1-2, described hereinafter, is given a "substantiallystraight line movement to andirom alley A.

"Table T may be guided up and down by rollers '16 movable in vertical guides 12 "fixed to the machine frame 54. The arms 68 and "(52, the connecting link 1523, rollers '76 and guides 12 are preferably provided at both sides'o'f the machine. Since this invention concerns itself onlywit'h the novel and improved pin distributor D, it is thought that the foregoing brief description of *the machine including a suitable table oper- 'atively associated with the distributor willsu'flice to afford a proper understanding of the invention.

The construction *and operation of the novel pin distributorD will now be described, the best showing of the general arrangement "of its parts being found inFigs. 2and'5.

The distributor D includes a horizontally disposed, endless and intermittently operable pin carrier, "designated generally at s. 'Thiscarrier S is "composed of ten 'fiexible sections or lengths 15 er substantially equal length such as chain formed 'of a plurality of links "Eli. hlthoug'hlink chain is shown and described, and is preferred, sections of any other suitable flexible means such as metalcable *which'has little or nostretch c'an'be used. The sections i5 alternate with and 'are operatively connected to ten pin receiving cups, individually identified *by the nurnbers i l'il, and corresponding in number with the number of pins usually forming ia set.

The pincar rierS is mounted so as to assume a serpentine form such *that, when at rest, cups "l -l0 are disposed in the conventional triangular pattern shown in Fig. 2, wherein the cups are arranged sperm-very to cor'resp'ond'to lthe chutes "56, which deliver pins to table arranged th playing pattern fin which pins are disposed thereby on the alley A. To 5 0 zriovably mount the pin carrier S, =it "operatively engages with and travels upona plurality or driving andidriven members, such as sprockets or gears 83 85.

To assist-in an understanding of the operation of the di'stributo'r D, each Idf the pin carryln cups Nos. I I-B .hasits identifying numeral iconnedted'thereto by'a line in F-igpz. The numerals 1a to ma, used to designate the stations of the pin pattern, are within the'cups at the respective stations :in .Fig. 2. "I his;pin pat-tern is of the uisual pr :reccgnized order :in which .pins are numbcred when :on the lailey. Elms, although 5 the cups numbered I-I can assume different successive positions as the carrier S is driven during operation, the pattern numbers Ia-Illa will remain as shown.

All of the sprockets 80-85 are disposed in a horizontal plane, and the pin carrier S moves about these sprockets in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 2, under the influence of sprocket 80, which is the drive element for the distributor D.

Sprockets 8I-85 are all mounted to rotate on vertical shafts 86 supported in brackets 88 fixed on and extending upwardly from the distributor frame 50, see Figs. 1 and 5.

All members 80-85 are what may be termed mutilated sprockets. Each sprocket ill-85, for example, is cut away to provide three equidistant arcuate cup seats or recesses 90 for the reception of the pin cups. Driving sprocket 80 is smaller than sprockets 8I-85, and is provided with two diametrically opposed seats 99 in which pin cups I-I0 are adapted to be seated.

As shown in the drawings, see particularly Figs. 2 and 5, the pulleys 38 carrying the forward ends of the pin delivery belts 3 3 are arranged longitudinally of the machine and above the distributor D in a position in rear of and adjacent the a pin spot or station of the pin pattern. Thus when pins leave the forward ends of the belts 34, each pin in succession will descend towards and into any cup on the pin carrier 8 which may be at station 511. I

To assist in guiding pins P, butt end foremost, into cups in the foregoing position there is arranged between the pulley 33 a downwardly and forwardly inclined guide plate 9 3. portion of this guide 94 is preferably arranged concentric with the shaft 95 mounting the pulleys 38 and may, in effect, form a continuation of the pin deflecting plate 54, previously described.

Guide plate 9 5 terminates at its lower forward edge adjacent the rear peripheral portion of any cup at station 5a and is there secured to a pair of support plates 98. These are secured to and extend forwardly from a bearing arm I08 at the top of a bracket I82 projecting upwardly from the frame 59. The forward end of plate M and the top rear portion of plate 9-6 may also be secured to the arm I08, as indicated in Fig. 5.

A11 of the cups Nos. I to are of the same size and construction. In Figs. 8-10 cup No. 8 is shown in detail. The cups each comprise a vertical cylindrical member I04 formed of sheet metal, and open at its top and bottom ends. The inside diameter of member ISQ is somewhat greater than the maximum diameter of the body of a pin P, whereby pins can enter and be discharged from the cups readily while nevertheless the pins are confined in the cups approximately on the axes of the cups.

The upper edge of each cup preferably terminates in a flaring outwardly directed flange I06.

One end of each of the sprocket chain sections 15 is pivotally secured at I93 to a clip or bracket IIIl, see Figs. 8 and 9, one of which is fastened to the outside of each cup at the rear thereof when considering the direction of travel of the pin carrier S through the distributor.

The opposite end of each chain section carries in the free end of its terminal link I6 a pivot pin I I2 on the upper and lower ends of which rollers II4 are rotatably secured, see Figs. 8 and 12. These rollers are confined in oppositely facing upper and lower tracks II6 formed in a curved guide member II8 rigidly secured to the outer 6 face of each cup diametrically opposite clip 0'. The roller tracks II6 are concentric with the axes of the cups.

The station or position 5a of distributor D. located as above described, may be referred to as the pin delivery station, and in order to assist pins in properly entering cups at that station as they descend the guide 94, there is disposed opposite that guide a fixed abutment I which is secured to the frame 50 and projects upwardly therefrom. This abutment I20 includes a curved vertical plate I22 positioned adjacent to and extending above the edge of any cup at said sta- The upper tion. Thus the bottoms or butt ends of pins moving towards a cup at station 5a will strike against part I 22 and will be diverted thereby into the cup. Overtravel of the pins, and consequent engagement with the top edge of a cup with possible non-delivery of a pin into a cup is thus avoided.

Means are provided which may be releasably positioned so as to extend across the bottoms of the cups to retain pins in upright position there in as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, and which means may be automatically shifted to a position at one side of the cup bottoms to enable pins to pass through the cups into the chutes 56, when desired.

In accordance with this invention such means are automatically controlled so that simultaneous movement thereof to pin releasing position is effected only after pins have been delivered to all cups Nos. 1 to 10 at station 5a as a result of step by step movement of the pin carrier S which has caused those cups to successively pass into station 5a.

The means above mentioned are shown clearly in Figs. 8-10 in connection with cup No. 8. Such means are substantially duplicated for all cups.

As there shown, each cup has secured to the outside wall thereof near its bottom edge a hori zontal bracket I30, each end of which mounts a pivot I32 the axes of which are in alignment. Movably mounted on each pivot I32 is an arm I34. The free ends of these arms I34 have secured therein the opposite ends of a horizontal pin supporting bar or member I36 which extends parallel with the axes of the pivots I32. This bar I36 may be releasably positioned beneath and across the bottom of the cup body I04 in a position to releasably support a. pin in said cup.

For this purpose each arm I34 has connected thereto one end of a tension spring I 40 the other end of which is attached to a fixed clip I 42 on the outer wall of the cup.

The springs I40 thus yieldingly hold the pin supporting bar I36 upwardly against or in contact with the bottom of the cup so as to extend approximately across the center thereof, as clearly seen in Fig. 10.

Obviously, as thus far described, a pin entering a cup would, upon engaging the pin support I36. cause its arms I34 to swing with it about the pivots I32 to a lateral position such that a pin would pass through the cup. Means on each cup for releasably securing the member I 36 in pin supporting position across the bottom of a cup is therefore provided, which means may be simultaneously actuated at a selected time to release all the cup supporting bars I35 for simultaneous passage of all pins out of all cups I84.

Such means include a releasable latch bar I46 mounted on each cup so as to extend horizontal ly alongside and below the cup bottom. Each .latch bar has a part which may extend beneath awash projecting end of. the pin supporting bar 1.3.6 of that cup to lock that bar :in pin supportin position, as clearly seen in Figs. 8-10.. Each latch bar 146. is provided with a vertical portion 168 attached to a horizontal pivot sleeve i523 through which passes a pivot I52 mounted in spaced flanges 451i projecting from a bracket 1555 re tened to the outer Wall of the cup.

1 Surrounding the pivot sleeve i 58 is acoil spring 360, one end of which .is secured in a hole in one of the flanges lot and the other end of which extends about the part Hie of the latch bar 14$ in a manner to urge the latch inwardly and thereby releasably secure it beneath the pin supporting bar .4315, as in Figs. am. By shift ing the latch bar 446 outwardly to the dotted line position indicated in 8, the latch will be moved away from and will release the pin slipport bar 36. .The means for effecting this :action is described hereinafter.

-The descent of pins P into the cups at station so obviously occurs with considerable impact on the pin supporting bars L35. This impact, through the connections described, is transmitted to the cups and, incidentally, to the piuotal connections between those cups and the ohainsections 1.5.

In order to reduce the resulting strains and displacement of parts as a result of the aforementioned impact, each cup is provided, see Figs. and :9, with an exterior reinforcement in the .forrnpf :a curved metal strip ted, the bottom "portion of which is flanged outwardly and upward-1y to provide a horizontal rest ltd concen- .trio with the cup. As each cup assumes its stationary pin receiving position at station as, its rest 1-66 will project over and engage upon the top face of drive :sprocket 80 :at the edge of the cup seat or recess 9% of that Sprocket which, at that time, is adjacent the cup wall and concentric with the :axis thereof.

Thus the impact of the pin descent, as described, is transmitted to and taken up largely Joy the sprocket so.

The reinforcement 164 may, in the movement of cops to other positions .in the distributor, engage other sprockets in the manner just described, as for example, at station to where it would engage sprocket :83, as seen in Fig. 5. liowever, such engagement is merely incidental since other than at station 5a, the cup structures do not receive pin impact such as occurs at that station.

As previously stated, cups Nos. 'L-HI come to rest only at stations Ia-Hm, as -illustra,te,d in .Fig. 2, and it is desirable to effect gentle starting .and stopping of the pin carrier '5 for movesment of the cups into and out of stop positions arith preferably an accelerated motion between such positions to thereby reduoethe overall time .in, which a complete cycle of movement of the distributor .is :made. For this purpose suitable drive mechanism opzeratively associated with the sprocket gear '80 provided. Sprocket gear so is rotatably se- .cured to the upper end of a vertical shaft 110 which, below said sprocket so, is supported in .a bearing in the upper end $12 of a bracket H4 fixed .to the distributor frame 58. The shaft 110 extends below frame 58 where its lower end is journalled in another bearing in bracket 41.4. Below frame SILshaft no has fixed theret a bevel gear .116 which meshe with a bevel ,p'ihicnllflfixedon ne end of ahorizontal shatt 'iBLrotatahly mounted :in a v bearjurg extension shat insure. flonseeuentlr incens roller 18.4 th sl d 18.6 of arm -.l;8,3;:w

of the-bracket no... Th o posite e d of the shait I has secured. ther toa crank. 82,. the. free end oi wh c carr es a rol er. 18.4 chewable in a straight track I86 extending lengthwise of a driving crank arm I38.

This crank arm [88 is secured to one end of a horizontal shaft let rotatably mounted in a bearing I92 depending from frame 58 in a manner to position shaft 139 in a vertical plane passe ing through the axis of shaft I83 and at .a .QiS"? tance below the horizontal plane of the axis of said shaft I336. The opposite end .of shall [B ll has secured to it a driven section I95 of a suit-.- able one-revolution clutch I98. The driving section 28.2 of clutch 198 is rotatably supported on shaft 99 a d e con tant y driven by a belt 294 from a suitable power source, not shown. incorporated in th machi ist The. drvien m mber we of the clut h has a proj ction 266 engagable with an abutment .2313 dis! posed between the ends of a clutch lever 3.1 0,. One end of that lever is pivoted lat 2,12 on the channel 20c and its other ,end is pivotally attached at us to a link which operatively eon-.- nects it to an armature or a plunger 2.1.6 of .a solenoid are supported von a bracket 2.2.0 on the channel 266.

A tension spring 222 secured to the clutch lever are and to a stud .224 yieldingly urges the lever to clutch latching position in engagement with projection 265, as shown in Fig. 4,

The solenoid 2i8 is arranged in a circuit such as that illustrated in Fig. ll. This circuit isoberatively connected to the main control .circuit of the machine. The solenoid .218 is inter..- .mittently operated to intermittently release clutch 5.98 and allow the clutch to couple .and thereby advance the pin carrier S step by step to carry the pin receiving cups Nos. 1110 there of into and out of pin receiving position at Sta.- tion to under control of electrical elements in the circuit shown, as will be explained.

The clutch 95 may be a selected commercial type available in the open market. .One such is the Hilliard Single Revolution Clutch No. 2 Hilliard Clutch Bulletin No. 239, issued by The Hilliard Corporation, Elmira, New York, to which has been added an overruning clutch .to operate reversely, such as found in Hilliard Bulletin 131-1). Thus the clutch #98, when engaged and ideclutched bylever 2 ii}, acts to immediately stop the pin carrier S, whereby the cups are posi- :tioned exactly where needed.

Preferably, to avoid back-up of the carrier .8 by rebound when brought to rest, a second clutch device such as that found in Bulletin .239

above mentioned can be used-to hold the carrier S from moving backward from step position. Such a clutch device 193a is h stalled between sprocket S5 and. its shaft d5, see Fig. 2,

.Sincethe above mentioned clutch devices-and their functions are well-known, it is'deemed unnecessary to illustrate them in .iurther detail.

Each time the solenoid did is actuated toglift thecam lever 2H3 out of engagement with part 266 of the clutch, the clutch will automatically engage and drive shaft let and its attached driving arm 188 through one revolution. Upon examination of Fig. 3, it will be seen that upon rotation of shaft we the extremity of crank 5:138 will turn about the axis of shaft 193 through the circular path v538a shown dotted line in of crank arm I82 about the axis of shaft I80, as

indicated by the smaller dotted line circle l82a.

The extremity of arm I88 will travel about path l88a at a constant rate of speed. How ever, since the shaft i88 is offset with respect to shaft I93, as stated, the roller E84 carried on the shorter crank arm 4'82 will, as it traverses the guide 585 in arm E88, travel through the smaller path i82c concentric with the axis of shaft I88. Thus, in order for roller I84 to keep up with the speed of the end of arm E88 about the larger circle l88a, it will gradually increase or accelerate in speed as it leaves the position shown in Fig. 3 until it arrives at its maximum rate diametrically opposite said position after which its speed decreases until it returns to its initial or stop position.

The proportion of the parts of the drive mechanism disposed between crank arm I82 and the sprocket 88 is such as to effect 180 of revolution of shaft 118 and its gear 88, thus advancing all cups one step. For example, cup No. 8 will shift from position 5a to position 8a and all the other cups will move a corresponding distance which will bring all of these cups to rest in axial alignment with the centers of the spot positions la-IDa. In this movement, through the operation of the drive mechanism, just described, each travel stroke will start and terminate relatively slowly and gently with appreciable acceleration in between to thereby reduce the time required for such movement.

In the'position of the parts shown in Fig. 2, it will be noted that some of the pin cups, such as cups Nos. I, 2, 6 and 18 are out of engagement with the seats of the adjacent sprocket wheels 8!, 82, 84 and 85. When thus positioned these cups are supported by chain sections l5 connected thereto which are in mesh with teeth of sprockets 8!, 82, 84 and 85.

However, it will be noted that in the positions occupied at this time by the other cups Nos. 3, 4, 1, 8, 5 and 9 the chain sections which are connected to such cups are extending in curved paths about and in mesh with the teeth of the respective sprockets. This is, in eifect, as if the cups constituted links of the chain since these cups are in mesh with the sprockets by their engagement in the seats 98 thereof.

The importance of the slidable connection of one end of each chain section to an adjacent cup through rollers H4 and curved tracks H8 will now be understood.

-With such an arrangement the effective or operative length of the chain 15 as a whole is not changed. When the cups are in positions 2a, 3a, 4a and 6a, for example, the chain sections at opposite sides of those cups are disposed on a straight line crossing the axes of the cups. However, in the position of a cup such as cup No. 4 at position la, ends of the chain sections attached thereto do not pass in a straight line through the cup axis, but in effect pass through a curved line crossing the cup axis and concentric with the axis of sprocket 8|.

Here the cup is seated in a sprocket and acts as one of the sections of chain, as stated above. This is for the reason that the rollers H4 attached to one of the chain sections connected to that cup have travelled in the track portions I Hi from a central position in that track towards one end thereof.

It will be understood that in different positions of the cups in their travel about the distributor said chain rollers H4 automatically shift in the tracks I I6 on the cups in one direction or another and thereby maintain the chain at a constant overall length.

By this arrangement a simple and sure operative arrangement of the pin carrier Sis effected whereby all of the cups are maintained in their intended positions and come to rest directly over the pin spots or stations la-l8a without the use of additional sprocket or other takeup devices. In this manner the closest and most compact arrangement possible of the sprockets 88-85 and of all ten cups on the distributor is effected.

It has been thought desirable to provide means for steadying the cups Nos. I-Hl in their move-' ments through the distributor, and especially to hold the cups against tilting or wobbling on their pivots relatively to the chain sections 15 of the carrier S.

For this purpose there is shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6 means associated with the sprocket wheels -85. Each of the wheels 8l-85 has a hub 238 surmounting its shaft, while wheel 88 has a simihub 232, Fig. 5. Fixed to each hub 238 at a distance below its sprocket is a three armed steadyrest 238, see Fig. 6. Each arm terminates in a seat 238 in vertical alignment and concentric with the cup seats 98 above, to thereby engage the same cups and co-operate with said upper seats in holding the cups in upright positions.

Hub 232 of wheel 88 has a two-armed rest 240, the seats of which align with the two seats in that wheel 88. The operation of the rest 240 is identical with that of the other rests 236.

' In order to explain the operation of the herein disclosed pin distributor, reference is made to Fig. 2 in which the pin carrier S should be considered as having travelled or indexed to move nine steps. Therefore, cup No. 8 is at the loading station 541 where a pin has been dropped into it;

cup No. 1 is at station 811; cup No. 4 at station 1a, and so on.

If the chain is now indexed to make one more step, cup No. 8 will move from the loading station 5a to position 8a; cup No. 5 will move from position 9a to station 5a; cup No. 9 from Illa to 9a; cup No. It from 6a to [0a, with the other cups moving correspondingly.

When this step has been taken, it will be readily seenthat all cups Nos. l-Hl will be loaded and will be at the corresponding stations la-Ifla and a set of pins will be ready for discharge from the distributor.

After this set of pins has been unloaded, the first pin of the next set will be deposited in cup No. 5 while it is still at the loading station 5a and before the carrier S is given its first step forward in the next cycle. Thus when the carrier S has moved one more step, the No. 9 cup will move to station 5a and receive apin. The cups which follow will all be loaded ready for the final step which carries the loaded cups to the pin discharge position.

Means are provided for simultaneously engag ing and swinging aside all of the latches I46 of cups Nos. l-lil when the pin carrier S has received its tenth indexing movement to bring the cups, as numbered, into alignment with the pin spot positions la-lOa, as just explained. The construction and arrangement of said means is such that this simultaneous release of all the pin support members I36 can only be effected when all of the loaded cups have been moved to the unloading position. The releasing means includes a plurality of latch devices, one of which is arranged on the frame 50 for co-operative rell lati'oii with the pin support of an adjacent" esp when in pin discharge position. The stops at positions Ill-4a inclusive and those at positions Eli-[Ga inclusive, are fixed while the stop at station Ed is movable into and out of a position in which it can engage and release the pin support for the N 5 cup, for a reason to be explained.

In Figs. 6 and 7 is shown diagrammatically a set of ten stops 250-259 inclusive, which co-opera-t'e respectively with latch bars M6 for the pin holding bars I36 for cups Nos. 5, 9, l0, 6, 3, 1, 2, 4, I and 8. Since it is desired that these stops be effective to release the pins only after the cups have been advanced ten steps, as stated, it is necessary that these stops be so arranged as to allow free travel of the pin carrier S without he stops engaging and releasing the latches I46 duringany of the nine step by step movements of the carrier S m a given cycle previous to its arrival at the tenth or pin discharge position.

For this purpose each latch M5 is provided with a. depending stud. onthe latch cars us on cups Nos. 5, g, m, s and 3 these Studs, desigmated Zt'a re relatively short and each is positioned either at a different distance from the free end of its bar T48 or if at the sarne distance, as on the cars for cups Nos. 5 and 9, these bars occupy different relative positions on the cups.

The latchbars I for cups Nos. I, 2, a, 1 and s are provided with similarly arranged dependin studs 262 which, however, are longer than the studs 26B As seen Fig. '7, the upper ends of stops 25%- 25'4 inclusive, are relatively close to the latch Bars [46 Fig- 5, it will be seen that these stops 250-255 are disposed in relatively difierent angular positions with respect to the cup centers Nos; 5, 9, it, 6 and 3 with which they are associated and which are indicated by cross marks in that fig lile'. c

Stops 255-258 inclusive however, have their upper ends agreater distance below the latch oars I46 than those of the stops 259-254. Thus, while as indicated, the studs 282 can, when in proper position, en age the related stops 2 5545%, the studs can can ass over the last mentioned stops without contacting them. 4 V

Fig. 6 likewise illustrates the angular disposition of stops' 255-259 relatively to the cross marks indicating thecup ce'nte'rs Nos. 1', 2, 4 l and 8.

The foregoing arrangement is such that all studs 285i and 262 can either pass freely over or laterally by all or the stops 250 259 without engagern'ent therewith until the tenth step has been erg eted, at which time all of the studs 263 and 262 may come into engiagment with their in tended stops; as in Fig l. At such time movable stop 250 at station 5a will be automatically moved from dotted lirie position Fig. '7 to its full line position. l'his movement of stop- 25fl will be explained in connection with the electrical circuit shown in Fig. ll.

Asshown in Fig. 5-, there? is pivotally mounted at 21!} on the guide plate 94a trip lever 212 one end of which projects into the path of pins descending the guide plate so that each time a pin asses down that plate towards pin receiving station 5a, lever 212 will be engaged and swung about its pivot. The other end of trip lever H2 is operatively associated with a; micro-switch 2H.

which, as shown in the diagram Fig. 11 is norm'al-' ly'ope'n. Each time lever 272 is actuated it will momentarily close the contacts of the microswitch 2:4 and thereby energize a solenoid 2H3. This action operates the one-revolution clutch cistern 12 [98 to effect a one step advance movement or the pin carrier S, except at one specific time iii the cycle, as will be explained.

Switch 274' is connected by a line 215 to one side of a normally open pit switch 218 arranged in the pit beneath the pivoted plate 28. Switch 218 is retained in open position by a spring 288 or other yielding member arranged beneath platform 28 in a mannerto urge it upwardly into the position shown. Downward pressure on plat form 28, as by the arrival of a ball thereon, will cause it to swing downwardly about its pivot and close switch 213. I v m Micro-switch 27 i is connected by another line 282 to one side of solenoid 2l8, the other side of which is connected by conductor 284 to power" line 2&6. v

The other power line 288 leads to a normally closed micro-switch 298 mounted on bracket I20 in position to be engaged by a cam 292 fixed to and projecting from the outside wall of cup no 8 when that cup enters station 5a. That 'side'oi switch 2% which is connected to conductor 288 is also connected by conductor 2% to the other side of the pit switch 2'58. H

Power line 285 is also connected to one side of a solenoid 2S8 mounted 'on the distributor frame 50 below station 541. Solenoid 298 is 'c"ori=- nected by line 38% to a normany oenmr be; switch 362 also arrange in the path or cam 292 on cup No. 8 so' as to be engagedtherebi at a; selected time after it hasengag'ed and opened switch 296. A branch line 3:74 connects ths'witch sea to line 29c. 7

As described a ove; theoeuvery or one after another into cups at station 5d actuates micro-switch 274' through trip level 212 and causes an advance movement of the pin carrier S by energizing solenoid 2'l8 and releasing clutch 198 for a one revolution movement.

However, when cup No. 8' reaches station '51:, a pin descending into that cup, while actuating micro-switch 27%, does not the'n eilect the tenth step or advance movement of chain carrier S since cam 2592 on cup N0. '8 will have" engaged and opened micro-switch 296. Thatswi tch; is wired in series with micro-switch 274 so" that when open it will hold this circuit open and are: vent energization of solenoid ifll.

best seen in Fig. 5, the rmature or spienggd 29's is operatively onnect d to movable stop 250, before mentioned, which is pivotedone art of the distributor irameliilat 310. This stop ass is normally; held out or the path of studs 25s or gs; on th'e latch cars use by a tensio spring 3l-'2. 'Ifhis clearance position of stop-2511 is illustrated in Fig. 6 where projections 3 air limiting its movement about its pivot 3 [8 are also o -Y i As stated, when the tenth pin is delivered into cup N0 8 at station 5a the advance of the pin carrier S" is momentarily prevented by the opening of switch 235. However, before the ten loaded pins can be discharged, the pin' carrier S must advance one step further in order to bring;- the loaded cups Nos. l-Ifi to the pin positions lat-lilo,

In order to understand the operation which efiects such last step of the pin carrier S a manner to o'vercon'iethe open circuit condition caused by actuation of switch 293, certain operations in a typical frame of bowling will be corisidered.

At the start of such aframe one set of pins is in playing position on the alley, while another 13 set is in the cups of the distributor in the ninth step position just mentioned. The machine is now in condition for the first ball of a frame to be rolled.

Upon rolling the first ball, its arrvial in the pit will depress platform 28 and close pit switch 218. Closing of this switch will cause current from line 283 to bypass the now open switch 298 by way of conductor 296 and through closed switch 278, will pass through lines 276 and 282 to solenoid 2I8 and thence back to power line 286. Current thus passing through solenoid 2I8 will cause the clutch I98 to be released and make a one-revolution movement, thus driving the pin carrier S through its tenth step to bring all of the loaded cups into position where the pins therein can be discharged.

As the carrier moves to this position, cam 292 on cup No. 8 will engage and close micro-switch 382, thus operating the solenoid 298 to swing movable stop 258 into position for obstructing stud 260 on latch bar I46 of cup No. 8.

In the last stage of this tenth step of the pin carrier S all of the stops 258-259 will simultaneously intercept studs 26% and 262 and all of the latch bars I46 will be swung clear of the pin supporting bars I36 which they have been supporting. This action will cause the pins in the cups, through gravity, to exert downward force on and push their supporting rods I36 to one side about pivots I32. The pins will all thus be free to leave the cups of the pin carrier and pass through chutes 56 into the table T.

Just before cup No. 8 comes to rest at position 8a, but not before the pin in cup No. 5 has been discharged at position 5a, cam 292 thereon passes out of engagement with and permits micro-switch 302 to open. This de-energizes solenoid 298 causing pivoted stop 250 at station 5a to be shifted from its latch engaging position to a position wherein it will be free of stud 260 on latch M6 for cup No. 5. By such action pin supporting rod I36 of cup No. 5 will be free to swing to pin supporting position beneath the cup. It will be locked in that position at once by the return of released latch bar I46 to latching position through its spring I60.

It will be seen that cup No. 5 at position 5a is now conditioned to receive and support the next pin to pass downwardly over guide plate 94 from delivery belts 34.

This will be the first pin of a new set. In its movement into cup No. 5, that pin will actuate micro-switch 214 through trip lever 212 thereby causing the pin carrier S to advance the first step of a new cycle as the result of energization of solenoid 2I8 and the resultant one revolution operation of clutch I98.

This movement of the carrier will carry loaded cup No. 5 from position 5a to position 8a.

Simultaneously all of the studs 260 and 262 on the other latch bars I46 will ride over their respective stops I-259 and free the latch bars.

Since the ten pins of the former set have left the cups the pin supporting bars I36 of the unloaded cups Nos. I-4 and Nos. 6-40 will have swung back to pin supporting position by action of their springs I40. Thus, as the latch bars free themselves in the step movement of the pin .carrier just considered they will automatically return into position to latch all bars I38 under infiuence of their springs I 60.

Pin support bar I36 of cup No. 5 has already been latched at station 5a and is supporting a CPI pin in that cup during the foregoing step movement of the pin carrier S, as previously stated.

By the subsequent delivery of pins one after another downwardly over the guide plate 94, the pin carrier S will be caused to advance step by step until ten cups have again been filled and another cycle of the distributor completed.

After the first ball of a frame has been rolled, as previously mentioned, a set of pins in distributor D is delivered into the spotter cups. Pins knocked into the pit are elevated through the rear section 22 and are delivered one after another into the distributor D by the belts 34. The table T descends and engages tops of pins remaining standing on the alley, electrically indicating the presence of such pins, if any, and mechanically lifts those pins from the alley.

The sweep mechanism (not shown) then removes deadwood from the alley into the pit for elevation at the rear, as stated. The table again descends and replaces the picked-up pins on their previous spots on the alley and returns to its upper position still carrying the set of ten pins which had been discharged into it from the distributor.

When a second ball of a frame is rolled, the action is largely a repetition of that occurring as the result of the rolling of the first ball. An exception is that the'distributor does not discharge additional pins into the top of the table which is still carrying the set of pins just men tioned because the means for discharging pins from distributor D is incapacitated by the machine control. Also any pins remaining standing on the alley are not picked up by a second descent of the table but are swept with the deadwood, if any, into the pit.

The overall action of the machine is such that the table now deposits on the alley the ten pins which it has been carrying.

Since a set of pins has been deposited in the distributor the machine is ready to receive the first ball of another frame. Variations in the cyclic operation of the machine as dictated by a strike frame of bowling, or other such variations, while modifying the cyclic operation of the machine as a whole, do not basically alterthe operation of the distributor. This is true since the operation of the distributor is dependent upon, and a cycle of operation thereof is begun by, the delivery into it of the first pin of a set and its cycle of operation is terminated by the delivery into it of the tenth pin of the same set.

Since we are not concerned further with the operation of the machine as a whole, further reference thereto is omitted.

I claim:

1. In an automatic bowling pin setting machine having a spotting device formed to receive a selected number of pins in triangular playing pattern and to place said pins on an alley, pin distributing mechanism including spaced chain sections, pin cups alternating therewith and connected to adjacent chain sections to form an endless pin carrier, a cup loading station, means for moving said carrier through a closed path and locating said cups in succession at said station, a conveyor constructed and arranged to deliver a bowling pin to each empty cup located at said station, mechanism for moving filled cups from said station and locating them in substantially triangular pin pattern arrangement above said device, and means effecting the simultaneous discharge of all of said pins from said cups into said device.

Iii easement bowling setting machine,- pifi; is't buting' mechanism ineluding an endless carrier campuses or seetions or chain of dual length and piii cups alternating therewith- 5nd ifii votd t6 the ends 6f adjacent chain sec tiiii-is fir movement thfwl'llh supports releasably holding each of said cups, and means for said endless carrier in a serpentine path wherein all said cups seriatim through fifiifits defining a selected pattern, means for its trmitteritl'y' arresting said pin carrier so that the s eessiveiy some to rest atone of said pcmts for receiving a thereat, said points corresponding in number to the number of cups on said 'pi'xican all of sa' idpdints being traversed by saidserpen e path, and said cups simur taneously'entering and leaving said station's upon ntcvemem of said carrier; and means for movsaid supports to efict the discharge of pins ifiiifi' said cups.

3. an automatic setting machine, pin dist sieenani mincluding an endless pifi arfi composed of sessile sections and pin cups alternatingtherewith and connected to the ends of adjacent flexible sections, a plurality of sta+ dens spaces a triangular pin pattern upon a closed pathtraversed by said pin carrier, means {or drama said carrier step by step in in eremiits cor-restarts" to the distance along said clsed pith bet ii any two adjacent sta+ dens, whereby said carrier may simultaneously 36% an caps frem station to station of said triangular pattern,- a plurality of substan tia tnang uisny arranged pin spotting units, mounting said units beneath said stations, pincup discharge means, and operating mocha nism for actuating said discharge means simul taneeusiy to effect the simultaneous delivery of an from said cups into said units.

4. In an automatic bowling pin setting machine, pin distributing mechanism including an endless pin carrier composed of sections of chain and a'iplurality of pin cups alternating therewith, sprockets supporting said pin carrier substantially throughout its entire length for movement in a serpentine path, each or said cups having a iiic ed pivot at one side, and a slidably mounted pivot at its opposite side,- said pivots connecting said cup to oppositely disposed adjacent ends of two of said chain sections, said slidable pivot connections being movable substantially horizontally relatively to the direction of movement of said cups to enable said chain sections to mesh with said-sprockets in said-serpentine movement oi said pin carrier.

5. In an automatic bowling pin setting machine, pin distributing mechanism including an endless flexible pin carrier composed of sections of chain of equal length and pin cups alternating therewith and pivoted to the ends of adjacent chain sections, supports mounting said carrier to travel said cups in a generally horizontal triangular path of travel means for driving said endless pin carrier, a plurality of substantially triangular'ly arranged stations corresponding in number-to the number of cups on said pin carrier and all of which are traversed by said cups in said movement of said carrier, means for delivering pins in succession to said'cups at one of said stations, saidparrier drive means being operable to move said carrier step by step to bring said cups to rest in succession at said one station to receive a pin "delivered to a cup at said station to initiate thereat, means'operable by'each pin said step movement of said carrier to place suceessivecupsat said. delivery station, and after the delivery of a pin into the last empty cup to locate said filled cups above said stations for delivery of pins thereto.

6-. In a pin distributing mechanism for a bowliii'g' spotting machine, a substantially horiiontal endless pin carrier, including a plurality 6f bowling pin holders mounted substantially eduidistantly along said carrier, a plurality of sprockets supporting said carrier for movement (it said holders a substantially horizontal plane, said sprockets being provided with peripheral recesses accommodating said holders as said carrier travels around said sprockets, means mounting said sprockets for positioning three of said holders at the apices of a triangle and the remaining holders in an arrangement therewith conforming to the triangular arrangement of bowling pins on the playing bed of a bowling alley, means for delivering bowling pins in succession to said holders, and means for simultaneously discharging all of said tra ngularly arranged pins from said holders.

'7. In a bowling pin distributing mechanism as described in claim 6, a pin support mounted on each of said holders, means normally maintaming each ofsaid supports in pin supporting relation relative to the bottom of each of said holders, and wherein said means for discharging all of said pins from said holders includes means operative when each or said holders contains a pin for moving said supports out of engagement with the base of a bowling pin.

84 In a pin distributing mechanism fora-n automatic bowling pin setting machine, a pin loading station, an endless pin carrier mounted above the bed of a bowling alley, a plurality of spaced pin cups mounted on said carrier, said cups being constructed and arranged to loosely encircle the butt ends of bowling pins, movable members mounting said carrier for travel in-a closed generally triangular path, such that said cups carried thereby are adapted to be disposed in a substantially triangular pin playingarrangement, a movable support carried by each cup for supporting a bowling pin handle end upright therein, means for driving said members to move said endless pin carrier and to dispose said cups successively at said loading station, and means for -simultaneously releasing each of said movable supports for movement out of engagement with a pin supported thereby for discharging saidpins from said cups for transfer to said bed of said bowling alloy.

9. In an automatic bowling pin setting machine, a pin loading station, pin distributing mechanism includingan endless pin carrier composed of sections of chain or equal length and pin cups alternating therewith and connected to the ends of adjacent chain sections, means mounting said carrier above the bed of a bowling alley, said means including a plurality of sprocket wheels arranged to mount said carrier for movement in a closed path, said plurality of sprocket wheels including three sprocket wheels rhount'edon shafts forming the apices of "a tri- "angle, said sprockets having spaced peripheral seats therein into which said pin cups may'mesh while said chain sections mesh with the-teeth of said sprockets, so that peripheral portionsof adjacent sprockets may be spaced apart a distance substantially less than the diameter of saidpin cups and said cups are adapted to be disposed in a substantially triangular pin playing arrange- 'ment,'mechanismfor'driving said sprocket wheels to move said endless pin carrier and dispose said pin cups successively at said loading station, a pin support for each of said cups, means for securing each of said supports in pin holding position, and means for releasing said supports for discharge of pins from said cups for transfer to said bed of said bowling alley.

10. In an automatic bowling pin setting machine, a pin loading station, pin distributing mechanism including an endless pin carrier composed of sections of chain and pin cups alternating therewith and pivoted to the ends or adjacent chain sections, mechanism operatively supporting said pin carrier above the bed of a bowling alley, including members mounting said carrier for travel in a generally triangular path such that said cups are adapted to be disposed in a substantially triangular pin playing arrangement, means for driving said endless pin carrier to locate said pin cups successively at said loading station, a plurality of stations arranged in a triangular pin pattern traversed by said path, said cups being spaced to simultaneously enter said stations upon movement of said pin carrier, and

each cup passing in succession through all of said "stations, a pin support for each of said cups, means for securing each of said supports in pin holding position, and means for releasing said supports for discharge of pins from said cups for transfer to said bed of said alley.

11. In an automatic bowling pin settin machine, pin distributing mechanism including an endless flexible pin carrier composed of sections of chain of equal length and pin cups alternating therewith and connected to the ends of adjacent chain sections, and means for driving said endless pin carrier in a serpentine path in which said pin cups move in succession through a pin delivery station, means for delivering a pin in succession to each cup at said station, each cup being open at opposite ends and having a movable pin support at one of said ends, latch means for each cup to releasably secure its pin support in pin holding position during and after passing of each cup through said delivery station and until all said cups have received pins, a pin discharge station for each of said cups, latch release stops located adjacent each of said discharge stations, means mounting said latch release stops in such position as to engage selectively with corresponding cup latch means to move said supports to pin release positions in response to the movement of said cups to their respective pin discharge stations.

12. In an automatic bowling pin setting machine, pin distributing mechanism including an endless pin carrier having pin cups mounted substantially equidistantly therealong, means for driving said endless pin carrier in a closed path in which said pin cups move in succession through a plurality of discharge stations, one of which also serves as a pin delivery station, means for interrupting the movement of said carrier upon arrival of empty cups at said delivery station, means for delivering a pin, in succession, to each empty cup located at said delivery station, means associated with each cup for releasably supporting a pin therein, fixed stops at each station other than said delivery station positioned to allow loaded cups to traverse said stations until all cups are loaded, and a movable stop at said delivery station normally positioned to likewise allow loaded cups to pass through that station, a trip element for each of said releasable supporting means, each element being so positioned on its respective cup as to pass all of said stops except the stop associated with the corresponding discharge station of its cup, means for actuating said carrier driving means to move said cup last to be loaded away from said delivery station and locate said previously loaded cups in pin discharging position at said stations relative to said fixed stops, means for moving said movable stop into position to be engaged by its corresponding trip element, supports mounting said fixed stops such that in response to the movement of said loaded cups to pin delivery position, each stop will then intercept the trip element for the releasable pin supporting means on a selected cup to release the pins from all cups.

13. In an automatic bowling pin setting machine, pin distributing mechanism including an endless pin carrier, spaced pin cups operatively connected to said carrier, means for driving said endless pin carrier to carry said pin cups in succession through a plurality of discharge stations,

one of which serves as a pin delivery station at which all cups successively come to rest, means for delivering pins in succession, to each cup at said delivery station, support means associated with each cup for releasably supporting a pin therein, fixed stops at each station other than said delivery station, means supporting said fixed stops to allow loaded cups to traverse said stations until all cups are loaded, differently positioned trip elements carried by each of said cups for each of said releasable support means, means mounting said trip elements on said cups so as to pass all of'said stops except the stop associated with the corresponding discharge station, a movable stop at said delivery station, means normally positioning said movable stop in inoperative position until all cups are loaded, a device for actuating said driving means in response to the delivery of a pin into the last of said cups to be loaded for engaging all of said trip elements with said fixed stops except the trip element on the last of said cups to be loaded, and means operative substantially simultaneously therewith for moving said movable stop to engage said last-named trip element, said stops being operative in response to said last movement of said driving means and the engagement of said trip elements with said stops for moving said trip elements to effect the release of said pin support means from engagement with pins held thereby to effect the discharge of all pins from all of said cups.

14. In an automatic bowling pin setting machine, pin distributing mechanism including an endless pin carrier, pin cups carried by said carrier, means for driving said pin carrier, means on each cup for releasably supporting a pin therein, an electrical circuit including a switch operable by delivered pins to effect a step by step operation of said driving means of said carrier, a plurality of intermediate stations in which said cups are brought to rest by said carrier including a pin delivery station, pin delivery means at said delivery station, stops at each station other than said delivery station positioned to allow loaded cups to traverse said stations until all cups are loaded, a movable stop at said delivery station, means normally locating said movable stop in an inoperative position to likewise allow loaded cups to pass through that station, a solenoid operatively connected to said movable stop, and a solenoid switch in said circuit, means operative in response to the delivery of a pin into the last of said cups to be loaded at said pin delivery station to actuate said solenoid switch and energize said solenoid to shift said movable stop to an operative position, other means operable when. all cups have been loaded for operating said carrier driving means to move said carrier with said loaded cups and locate said cups in. pin releasing position at said stations relative to said stops, and pin release means for said cups operated bysaid stops in response to the movement of said cups to said pin releasing position for simultaneously moving all of said pin supporting means on all of said cups to pin discharging position.

15. In a bowling pin distributor for a bowling pin spotting machine having a pin setting frame for setting pins on a bowling alley, an endless pin carrier, said carrier comprising a plurality of alternately connected. flexible sections and substantially cylindrical pin supporting holders, a movable pin holding device carried by each of said holders for maintaining a bowling pin handle end upright therein, separate means for moving each of said movable pin holding devices to free said pins in said holders for discharging said pins therefrom, means for supporting said carrier in said position to maintain said holders in substantially triangular pin playing arrangement, and similarly arranged pin receiving devices on said frame and located beneath said holders of said distributor for receiving said pins discharged from said holders.

16. In an automatic bowling pin setting machine having a spotting device, a plurality of pin spotting units mounted on said device and arranged in substantially triangular playing pattern, means for moving said device to and from a bowling alley to place pins on said alley, pin distributing mechanism including spaced flexible sections, pin cups alternating therewith and connected to adjacent flexible sections to form an endless pin carrier, a cup loading station, means for moving said carrier through a serpentine path to locate said cups seriatim at said station for delivery of pins in succession thereinto and to locate filled cups in discharge positions corresponding to the arrangement of said units on said device, means for depositing pins in said cups at said loading station, and means for discharging said pins in said cups to said spotting units.

17. In an automatic bowling pin setting machine, pin distributing mechanism including an 20 endless pin carrier comprising flexible sections and pin cups alternating therewith and connected to the ends of. adjacent sections, a pin delivery station, means for driving said pin carrier intermittently in a closed path and locating each of. said pin cups in succession at said pin delivery station, a plurality of intermediate stations to which said cups are moved by said carrier, means for delivering pins in succession to successive cups at said delivery station, movably mounted support means associated with each cup for releasably supporting a pin therein, fixed stops at each of said intermediate stations, a movably mounted stop at said delivery station, difierently positioned trip elements for each of said cups, each of said elements having means mounting it on its respective cup so as to pass all of said fixed stops except the stop associated witha corresponding intermediate station, the trip element carried by the last cup to be filled being adapted to coact. with said movably mounted stop, means normally holding said movably mounted stop out of the path. of travel of said loaded cups passing through sm'd delivery station, a device for moving said movably mounted stop into operative position for engagement with said trip element on said last cup to be filled with a pin, and means operative after the delivery of a pin into the last empty cup to be loaded and in response to the movement of said pin carrier to engage said trip elements. with their respective fixed stops and said movably mounted stop to move said trip elements and release said releasable pin supporting means for discharge of said pins from said cups.

THOMAS. FLINT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,573,643 Proclr Feb. 16, 1926 1,692,796 Bishop Nov; 20, 1928 1,723,941 Krenzke Aug. 6,v 1929 1,946,452 Bridges Feb. 6, 1934 2,070,917 Perry et al. Feb. 16, 1937 2,319,925 Flanagan May 25,. 1943 2,341,475 Parra et al Feb. 8', 1944 2,388,708 Bates Nov. 13, 1945 2,390,302 Henricksen Dec. 4', 1945 2,437,702 Miller et al. Mar. 16, 1948 

